As I read the March 4 article, “Police get incentives for tickets” the absolute wrongness of the situation overwhelmed me. Here we have a taxpayer-funded state commission doling out taxpayer dollars in giveaways to police departments, inspiring them to cite citizens for civil infractions (usually for which there is no defense). Part of the revenue pays for the court system, part goes to the judicial retirement fund, and part goes to the police retirement fund and the balance goes to the cities in which the infractions were alleged to have been observed.
Could there be a conflict of interest here? Is this not a replacement for the speed traps – oh, excuse me – an enhancement?
And we are supposed to believe the obvious lies – that we are entitled to a fair hearing or that there is equal justice for all and that we’re innocent until proven guilty? Is there any wonder as to why the police are so gleeful? Please spare me the rhetoric that it’s about safety. It isn’t. It’s about money.
Somehow, we are supposed to believe that this money will show up on the ledger sheets of the courts and the cities where the plunder was extracted. It might, but I seriously doubt it. Has a full accounting of the money taken in by the courts or the police ever been disclosed to the public? Has there ever been an independent audit of the treasuries of the cities, courts or the police departments? Maybe, but again, I doubt it. Is anyone policing the police?
We’re supposed to respect this system? Please tell me why!
Arlington
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
